LA Clippers (102) at Chicago (110)
Gordon scores 51 as Bulls edge Clippers
[ Boxscore ]
Gordon's 51 points were a season high
Ben Gordon and the Chicago Bulls delivered an early Christmas present to their fans tonight, as last year's Finals MVP poured in a season high 51 points and made eight three pointers as the defending champions edged a determined Los Angeles Clippers team 110-102 in the United Center. Corey Maggette top scored for the Clippers with 33 points and Cuttino Mobley added 30 of his own as they made the Bulls work hard for their fifteenth consecutive victory.
From the opening tip, two things were apparent: Gordon was in for a big night and the Clippers were not intimidated by the hometown Bulls. Gordon made his first three shots but the teams traded baskets early as Mobley matched Gordon's 12 first quarter points with 10 of his own. Chicago appeared to have taken control by the end of the first quarter but found themselves struggling to keep pace with the Clippers in the second quarter as Gordon and Mobley continued their shootout, matching their first quarter totals with 12 and 10 points respectively. Los Angeles dominated the boards and made the Bulls pay for poor shots, pushing the ball and racing out to an eight point lead as the period wore on. Gordon's sharpshooting kept Chicago in the game however as his three pointer with three seconds left tied the game at 51 heading into halftime.
The third quarter began with both teams feeling each other out, with a few rushed shots and sloppy turnovers. Former Bull Elton Brand would carry the Clippers in the third period scoring eight points and helping them lead by as many as six, but Gordon continued his onslaught with 11 points including three more three pointers to finish the third quarter with 35 points while putting the Bulls up 79-73. Mobley would cool off in the third, scoring just four points but continued to contribute by playing the passing lanes and finding his teammates, ultimately finishing with five assists and two steals.
The fourth quarter would belong to Gordon and Maggette as each scored 16 points as each team tried to gain the upper hand. Having cooled off from beyond the arc, Gordon began attacking the basket, making acrobatic finishes at the rim and drawing two shooting fouls. Though Chicago held the lead through the entire quarter, the Clippers constantly threatened to take it back behind Maggette's scoring barrage and it was not until the Bulls extended the lead to ten with under a minute left in the game. Fouled late, Gordon made two free throws to top the 50 point mark for the first time this season and help seal a fifteenth straight victory for the Bulls.
Chicago's bench was oddly quiet in the game as they combined for just twelve points and shot the ball poorly. The starters would end up playing the entire fourth quarter as the game hung in the balance. "We need to step up," said Mike James, who played 11 minutes off the bench and was held scoreless having missed all five of his field goal attempts. "Ben shot the lights out tonight and all our starters played great, but we (bench players) need to have their backs." Both Tyson Chandler and Carlos Boozer registered double-doubles for the Bulls, with Chandler posting 12 points and 11 rebounds and Boozer tallying 17 points and 13 rebounds. Luol Deng had a solid all around game with eight points, seven rebounds and six assists while Kirk Hinrich also handed out six assists in addition to scoring 10 points.
For the Clippers, Maggette added 9 rebounds to his team high 33 points but had seven turnovers. Brand posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds and Andre Miller handed out eight assists but scored just four points on 2/6 shooting. Rookie Zachary Nugent had his hands full guarding Boozer but posted a respectable 8 points and 10 rebounds in eighteen minutes off the bench while Vic Kirk scored just four points in nine minutes.
The Bulls do not play again until December 28th, where they will attempt to win their sixteenth in a row against the Toronto Raptors. The Clippers play host to the Detroit Pistons tomorrow, one of seven games that will be played on Christmas Day.
Notes: The Clippers had a 47-38 advantage on the boards, also edging the Bulls in offensive rebounds 16-15...Los Angeles shot 53.5% from the field compared to 49.4% by the Bulls, but were just 1/10 from three point range compared the Bulls' 10/26...the Clippers were whistled for 21 fouls to the Bulls' 11...the two teams combined for 42 turnovers (22 by Los Angeles, 20 by Chicago)...Elton Brand's scoring average has dropped by just under six points per game during the month of December.
Current Record: 22-4
Next Game: @ Toronto Raptors; 12-14 (December 28th)
I was hoping I'd have a shot at the three point record but the shots weren't falling in the fourth and I ultimately just lowered his percentages. I also accidentally put up a terrible three with Gordon in the third when I meant to fake the shot and held the button a fraction too long, if not for that attempt and a couple of other overzealous ones I'd have been able to have him finish 8/11. Still, by my standards, 8/14 isn't too shabby!
Good to see you got back to business though, that Sixers win is sure to ignite a 20+-game win streak maybe? 
Korver got your winning streak back with that great performance.
ur entire division is put to shame by ur record! good job keep it up! 
